Engelhart Reunites With Grasser for Hockenheim Finale

Christian Engelhart will join GRT Grasser Racing Team for the final DTM weekend of the season at Hockenheim, replacing Andrea Caldarelli due to Lamborghini LMDh commitments for the Italian driver.

Engelhart will pilot the No. 19 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 in the pair of 60-minute races, which will conclude the 2023 campaign.

Caldarelli, who initially stepped into the gold-liveried car for the remaining two events, is unable to compete due to commitments to Lamborghini’s LMDh programme.

The Italian manufacturer is currently ramping up the test program for its SC63, with a test at Jerez scheduled for this week.

Engelhart, meanwhile, rejoins the DTM grid after a six-race absence. He initially started the season with Porsche squad Toksport WRT, taking a race win on the opening weekend of the season at Oschersleben before parting ways with the team in August.

The Hockenheim finale will mark something of a reunion for Engelhart and Grasser, who enjoyed significant success together in previous years.

Engelhart formed part of the team’s lineup that took a GTD class victory at the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona alongside Mirko Bortolotti, Rik Breukers and Rolf Ineichen.

Teaming with Bortolotti, he also secured the combined Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS title in 2017, when it was still known as the Blancpain GT Series.

“Returning to my Grasser Racing family for Hockenheim is a great feeling,” said Engelhart.

“We have already celebrated great successes together in the past. Now to compete together in the DTM is a highlight for us.

“At the same time, my special thanks go to Porsche, who gave me the green light for this project.

“The challenge to get used to the new Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 in a very short time is enormous, so I’m now fully focused on the job ahead.”

Lamborghini is still in contention for the manufacturers’ championship, sitting in second behind Porsche with 41-point deficit.

“We are very happy to contest the season finale with Christian and it means a lot to us to have GGMT Revolution on board again as a partner at Hockenheim,” said team principal Gottfried Grasser.

“We have achieved fantastic milestones with Christian and he had been part of the Lamborghini family for a long time.

“We have always maintained a friendly relationship even after our years together and it is great to see him back in our car.

We are definitely optimistic about the weekend because we know that our drivers are strong at Hockenheim.”